Camping

Yes, we went camping with a very independent toddler. Let me tell you...it was a lot of work but totally worth it. We went to a place about 25 minutes from us so not to far but far enough to get out of the "city" We went with some friends Friday afternoon. When we got there we set up camp and wanted to relax a bit but the girls had other plans. Miss.Emma was a little wander, just wanted to explore everything. Miss.June wanted to go swimming.  After we got some what set up we took the girls for a swim, what i really mean is the dads took the girls swimming. 

Emma and June LOVED the water.

 Emma could no doubt live in the water

Just throwing rocks in the lake

Lesli and I just watching the girls play in the water.

For dinner we made tin-foil dinners, Jared had steak, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. I made Chili Cheese fries, yes you just read that right....one word AMAZING! They were a hit for everyone. Emma got to stay up way way past her bed time. We all sat around the camp fire telling stories and laughing. We also made S'moreos;; Roasted marshmallow on between a Oreo! They were also AMAZING! Camping calls for the best food/snacks ever. 

Emma got to sleep with us for the first time EVER! She did great! I did not sleep the whole night cause i kept checking on her making sure she was warm enough and that i wasn't going to roll over on her.

In the morning Jared and I made breakfast burritos for everyone. Dan and Lesli took the girls on a nice scavenger hunt while we got everything ready. 

Emma found Lesli a purple flower.

After breakfast we had some more friends come to hang out with us. They also have a little girl. They are pretty much BFF's already. 

I just love this little face. 

After a nice swim and a tasty lunch and more laughs we needed to pack the last of out things and head home. Staying up late and no nap means someone was a bit cranky!

We didnt even make it out of the park before she was OUT! I mean OUT! drool and all!

Camping with friends is seriously the best.We have made some of the best friends here in Texas. Cant wait to do it again. 

Chicken with Mushrooms and Zucchini

Chicken with Mushrooms and Zucchini

INGREDIENTS: 
2-3 Chicken Breast
2-3 Tablespoons Cornstarch for dusting 
1 Tablespoon of Canola oil or Vegetable
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
8 Ounces (a box) Cut up into slices 
1-2 Zucchini, sliced and then cut in half
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
1 Can of Water Chestnuts 
2 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1/2 Teaspoon ground ginger

DIRECTIONS:
Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, Toss them in a Ziploc bag along with 2-3 Tablespoons of cornstarch. Seal bag and toss until the chicken is lightly coated. Heat the oil and sesame oil in a large, non-stick skillet until rippling and hot. Add the chicken and cook until chicken is browned and all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate.
Add zucchini, mushrooms, and water chestnuts to the hot skillets and cook for 2-4 minutes, stirring often.( If need to i like to add a bit of sesame oil) Add soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Stir to coat the vegetables and continue to cook until mushrooms and zucchini are tender. Add chicken to skillet and stir to combine and heat through. Serve over rice. I add sriracha sauce for some spicy flavor!

I would say this feeds 3 maybe 4. You could easily double this.

Chicken Cashew Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Cashew Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients                                                               Makes 6-8 lettuce wraps

Stir Fry Sauce:
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 Teaspoon ground red pepper (or more)
1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger
1 Teaspoon sesame oil

Cashew Chicken:
2 Chicken breast, diced 
Green leaf or ice burg lettuce
3 Tablespoons oil of choice 
1 Cup onion
2 Garlic cloves minced
1 Teaspoon soy sauce
1/4 Cup cashews, Chopped ( I put them in the food processor)
handful of baby carrots, Chopped ( Also put in the food processor )
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
First make the stir fry sauce. Combine all and make sure to dissolve brown sugar, set aside 
For the chicken heat oil in pan over medium high heat. Add diced chicken and brown. Remove chicken from oil, Add onions, garlic and 1 teaspoon soy sauce to pan: brown. When brown and tender add stir fry sauce, browned chicken and cashews. Saute everything for a few minutes and remove from heat.
Spoon chicken into individual lettuce leafs and top with your favorite hot sauce. We use sriracha.
Enjoy!

I like to use romaine hearts for our lettuce. 

And we like bite size pieces of chicken. 

Photo Phone Dump

Emma and I flew to Arizona for a week to see my family and celebrate my moms birthday.

Siblings, I love them

 My Brother, Sister, Nieces and Emma

 Grandpa taught her how to play the drums

 She LOVES dogs

 Crazy Bed Head

 She also LOVES Uncle D

 Future Hair Dresser?

 She has a slight case of OCD. She does this without ant help 

 Grandpa gave her some drum sticks that play music.

 Just feeding our good friend Henry a snack 

Of course in Texas there are Long Horns in a hotel parking lot

Poor girl was sick this past week. She just wanted to be held and cuddled. 

 She was so tired and weak.

Finally after 3 days she realized that this sucker helps

 Emma and her friend Hennessy 

 She may have picked all the flowers at the park

 Her mom smell

I Love her so much!!!

18 Months

Emma is 1 1/2....

My baby is not a baby anymore

At 18 Months she is 22 lbs and 30 inches tall. 

She has 10 teeth, and loves to brush them.

We know our Shapes and Colors, and of course all of our animal noises.

Emma knows 15 + words, my favorite is turgle...aka turtle 

She loves to be outside running and waving to cars, blowing bubbles and playing with chalk.

She has a slight interest in the big girl potty. She will tell me when she is dirty and even bring me a diaper. So we have started putting her on the toilet in the mornings and before a bath, no luck yet. 

She loves to count to 1.

She is a pro with a fork

She folds her little arms when we pray and throws her hands in the air for amen.

She knows E is for Emma.

Night time prayers are totally different story.

She knows majority of body parts. I think her belly button is her favorite. 

She LOVES to throw trash away, fold laundry and put the dishes away.

Her new thing is jumping, it is so funny. She doesn't get off the ground but man does she try! 

We don't watch TV a ton but when we do she loves Cat in the Hat and will say " Go go go" 

Her favorite songs are Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, If your happy and you know it, ABC's, Ring around the roses.

She loves to dance, and stomp her feet.

She is our little Miss. Independent 

 18 month check up, Last shots until she is 4!

We hit the mark for our car seat for her to face forward, she loves it!

I know it has been for ever so here are a few pictures of the past month or so....

I cut and donated 12 Inches of hair.

 Those busy bags have finally came to good use for us!

 I think bath time is her favorite

 LOVES her blocks

Two drinks are always better than one

We had snow this month, She loved it, i fell and broke my really nice camera.

 Just takin a ride down the hill.

 Carousel is are new thing, She say WOAH!!

We had a wonderful Valentines day. We had a nice relaxing night at some friends house with some home-made pizza and the girls played.

A group of us girls get together every week for play group so we had a little party for them and exchanged valentines, which she carries around and reads everyday still.  See Below...

This card is from her great-grandparents in California. 

She LOVES the park.

2013

Last two pictures of my "Bucket List 2013" -

12/30- Miss.Emma the diva

 12/31- Emma LOVES to hold things in the store this week was the limes

 

2013 was a good year for us Watson's.

I think our favorite thing is knowing how much such a small child can learn and grow in just a year. My child amazes me everyday. She loves learning new things, and of course trying to copy others. You should see her dance moves.I never knew what loves really was until i had Emma. She just brings so much joy into my life. Knowing your waking up in the morning to cook your family breakfast is kind of a highlight of my day. Sitting together as a family is the best. And i get to share that almost everyday with my little family. My 2013 goal for the year was to lose 15lbs and get toned. Well....I DID IT! I lost all my baby weight and then some. I am so proud of myself it was hard work but worth it. The toning part i'm still working on that but i have reached my weight goal.

2014

GOAL- Send everyone in mine and Jared's family a birthday card...39 birthday cards that is. And to write something short and sweet in my new 5 year journal. 

NEW YEARS DAY-

Emma had pig tales, not just some of her hair all of her hair. It lasted about 2 hours. She likes to put things over/on her head. i do her hair at least twice a day.

 Jared is in Utah for some snowboarding with friends and well we got up at 4 this morning, came home and slept for maybe an hour. Then some one only napped for an hour after lunch! AHH how does she do it! So to get out of the house and makes her a little less fussy we went to the mall to ride the carousel. She loved it until it was over and then cried....

 She is now sleeping which took her maybe 3 minutes to fall asleep. Ahh some much needed quite mommy time.....